Banks vs. Credit Unions

July 19, 2018

By Kathryn Pins

Everyone knows what a bank is, but what do you know about credit unions? Credit unions are growing in popularity according to the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). So, why are people moving their finances out of big banks and into credit unions? What’s the difference between a bank and a credit union? We address some of the biggest questions and misconceptions about the differences.

Are credit unions open to the public?

Credit unions are open to the public in a different way than banks. In order to use a credit union’s products, you must qualify for membership. That membership, however, isn’t purchased with an annual fee.

Different credit unions require different qualifications. The most common ways to qualify for a credit union is through your place of work or the place where you live. However, some credit unions offer other ways for the public to become members.

At Alliant, you can qualify for membership in five different ways. You can be an employee/retiree of a qualifying company or a member of a qualifying organization, you can live or work in a qualifying Chicagoland community or you can choose to support Foster Care to Success. (Alliant will make a one-time $5 support payment on your behalf.)

Banks do not have qualifications like credit unions do. They are open to the public and call their depositors customers.

What’s the difference between a credit union’s member and a bank’s customer?

The difference comes down to who owns the financial institution. At a bank, stockholders are the owners. That means that banks answer to their stockholders and have a fiduciary duty to those stockholders. They do not have the same obligation to their customers. At a credit union, members are the owners. That means that a credit union answers to its members. Membership represents a share of ownership. Credit unions take pride in serving their members’ best interests.

Banks are for-profit companies. Are credit unions for-profit too?

Credit unions operate on a lean but efficient model so that their members can enjoy the benefits. Like I said above, banks are owned by their stockholders. This means they’re driven to make profits for those stockholders. That’s a great business model if you’re a stockholder, but it might not be best for you as an account holder. If you belong to a credit union, on the other hand, you’re a member-owner and get a share in the profits through great rates!

Will my deposits be insured?

At banks, your deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), a branch of the federal government, up to $250,000. At credit unions, your deposits are federally insured up to $250,000 by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), also a branch of the federal government. In short, deposits in both institutions are insured by the federal government for the same amount.

Which has higher fees, banks or credit unions?

Fees irritate me. I’ve never understood why I would pay for a checking or savings account. If you’re like me and want to avoid unnecessary fees, where should you go? A recent study by DepositAccounts.com found that credit unions have lower checking account fees than brick-and-mortar banks. For example, the national average ATM fee for banks was $2.41 compared to $1.46 for credit unions. If you look at Alliant specifically, we never charge an ATM fee, offer over 80,000 fee-free network ATMs and offer ATM Rebates up to $20/month for checking account debit card users, so ATM fees could be a thing of the past.19 Why are fees lower for credit unions? You probably guessed it. Fees usually are lower at credit unions because their customers are their members and those members are the owners.

When it comes to the difference between banks and credit unions, the most important thing to remember is that credit unions are owned by their members. This means you’ll usually find better rates and lower fees at credit unions. Wherever you choose to keep your savings or get a car loan, you want to know that you’re getting some of the best rates. Do your homework and “bank” at the financial institution that fits your needs best.

Kathryn Pins is a marketing content specialist at Alliant. She’s passionate about finding and communicating meaningful financial information with Money Mentor readers. Kathryn is a saver who gets more excited about certificates and her Roth IRA than shopping. When she does spend her earnings, it’s on furthering her education, travel, unique experiences, and loved ones.

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